Fence-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. A. MINNIOK. FENGB MACHINE.

. Wiigzsses Phato-Liihogmphon Washington, D c

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(No Model.)

device.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ALONZO MINNIGK, OF ELVOOD, INDIANA.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,843, dated November 26, 1889.

Application filed July 18, 1889, Serial No. 317,444. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs ALONZO MIN- NICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elwood, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Fence-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fence-making machines; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a completed fence and my improvements in their operative position. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation, partly in section, of the Wire-twisters. Fig. 31s a detail view of the hand twisting Fig. i is a horizontal section on the line x 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of the tension device. Fig. 6 is a View of the wire-clamp. Fig. 7 is a view of the reel.

In carrying out my present invention I set in the ground, at one end of the line of the proposed fence, a post A, to which the fencewires B, which may be of any desired number, are secured, and at a suitable distance from the said fence-post I erect the bracepost 0, and near the said post I erect the tension-bar or standard D, which is secured against lateral motion by the brace-wires E, having their upper ends secured to the upper end of the said tension-bar or standard and their lower ends secured to the anchors F, which are driven into the ground on opposite sides of the fence and at a proper distance therefrom. The tension-bar or standard is further braced'by the short bars G, which are arranged between the brace-post O and the said tension-bar, so that the said tension-bar will be enabled to effectually withstand the strain put thereon in the operation of the de vice.

to draw the said plates together, so as to bind them around the tension-bar. In the said clamping-plates, at the centers of the same, I mount the thumb-bolts L, the heads of which rest in countersunk openings M in the sides of the tension-bar, and on these thumb-bolts I provide the pressure-blocks N, having central recesses 0, through which the thumbbolts pass. A thumb-nut P is mounted on the end of each of the thumb-bolts, and is adapted to be turned up thereon, so as to force the pressure-block against the clamping-plate I, and the said pressure-block is provided at its ends with the pins Q, which are adapted to pass through openings R in the clampingplates and enter recesses S in the sides of the tension-bar, and thereby guide and maintain the pressure-blocks in their proper position. These pins also serve to maintain the proper tension of the wires, as will be presently more fully referred to.

A spring T is arranged around the thumbbolt within the recess 0, and this spring permits the pressure-block to yield to any kink or other irregularity which may be in the fencewire, and at the same time maintains the proper tension on the wire. The tension of the wire is further maintained and the strands of each wire kept together by the clamps U, which consist of plates V V, fitted on opposite sides of the wires near the tension-bar and secured together by a bolt \V, inserted through the plates, and athumb-nut X, mounted on the end of the bolt and bearing against the plates, so as to clamp them together.

Between the brace-post and the fence-post I arrange the twisting devices, which consist, essentially, of a standard Y, the twisting-wheels Z, supported by the said standard, and the lever a, connected to the said twisting-wheels and adapted to operate the same. The standard is provided with a longitudinal series of then be bent toward each other, so as to support the said wheels and prevent them being lost. The twisting-wheels are provided in their edges with annular grooves, which are engaged by the said arms when in position, and they are provided at a proper point with the opening or notch f to permit the insert-ion of the Wire, and 011 the inner sides of their rims they are provided with the hooks g, adapted to engage the wires and connected by the spokes or diametrical arms h, having a central opening '1'. The wheels are also provided with the outwardly-projecting radial arms j, which are pivoted to arms 71;, secured to the operating-lever a, so that when the said lever is reciprocated the twisting-wheels will be rotated. The said arm is provided at one end with the base-plate Z, through which and any one of a series of openings on in the lever a securing-bolt n is'passed. The lever is provided with a suitable handle 0, so that it may be conveniently operated, as will be readily understood.

lVhen all the pickets of the fence are of the same height, the wires may all be twisted by the twisting-wheels; but when the pickets are made in two lengths, as shown in the drawings, the top fence-wire is passed through the central opening 7; of the top twisting-wheel and the hand twisting device 19 is employed. This device consists of a small rod of convenient size to be grasped by the hand and inserted between the strands of the fence-wire and provided with an annular groove g, which is adapted to engage the strands of the wires, so that by rotating the said arm about the wire as a center the strands will be twisted together.

1 designates the reel on which the wire is mounted, and from which it is drawn as the fence is built. The reel consists of the radial arms 3, re-enforced at their intersection by the metallic strip 1, and pivoted at said point upon a base 11, consisting of cross-barssecured together, as shown. On the upper side of the radial arms 5,1 provide the outwardlyprojecting hooks to, areund which the wire is wound, as shown, and the said hooks are secured in the openings or recesses 00 in the upper sides of the radial arms, so that the di ameter of the circle described by the hooks may be varied at will, according to the size of the coil of wire to be supported by the reel.

From. the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the manner of building the fence by my improved device and the advantages of my im provement are thought to be obvious. The fence-wires are secured around the fenceposts A and then carried along the line of the fence, being passed through the tension device supported on the tension-bar, so that they will be drawn taut and the pickets consequently securely fastened. The wires are passed under the pins of the tension device and over the thumb-bolt, so thatthey are regularities.

thereby prevented from passing through the said tension devices too rapidly, and tight twisting of the wires around the pickets is consequently insured. The coiled springs around the thumb-bolts allow the kinks or other irregularities in the fence-wires to pass through the tension devices, at the same time serving to partially straighten out said ir- From the tension device the wires pass through the twisters, and in the said twisters they are arranged on diametrically-opposite sides of the center of rotation, so that when the said twisters are rotated the wires will be caused to wrap around each other, as will be readily understood. The twisters are rotated. in opposite directions as the pickets are placed between the strands of the wires, and the pickets will be thereby secured in place. The twisting device is shifted along the fence-wires as the fence is built, and when the line of fence has been completed the tension devices are removed and the free ends of the wires secured so as to finish the fence. The diametrical arm between the hooks of the twisters serves as a brace to strengthen the twisters, and at the same time facilitates the use of pickets of different lengths, as will be readily understood. The twisters and the tension devices are adjustable vertically along the standard and the tension-bar, so that they can be adapted to the number of wires used an d the distance between the said wires, and the brackets which support the twisters are made of malleable metal, so that they can be readily bent around the twisters to secure them in operative position.

The device is very simple and can be easily operated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a fence-machine, the combination of the standard, the twisting-wheels having'annular grooves in their edges and provided with wire-engaging books on their inner surfaces, and the bracket secured to the standard and having forwardlyprojecting arms passing around the said wheels and fitting in the grooves in the edges of the same, asset forth.

2. The twisting-wheel provided with integralcurved hooks on its inner surface and a 'diametrical arm formed integral with and connecting said hooks and having a central opening, the said arm and hooks being entirely within the planes of the sides of the wheel, as set forth.

3. The combination of the tension-bar, the clamping-plates passing around the tensionbar, the bolts mountedin said plates on opposite sides of the tension-bar, and the .presslire-blocks mounted on the saidbolts,-as set forth.

4. The combination of the thumb-bolt, the press ure-block mounted thereon and provided with a recess through which said bolt passes, the spring coiled around the bolt within the through openings. in the clamping-plates and I0 engaging recesses in the tension-bar, and the thumb-nuts mounted on the ends of the bolts, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES ALONZO MINNICK.

Witnesses:

DAVID P. NUZUM, ANDREW LORAT. 

